West Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University System announces IT Audit Report Results

CANYON, Texas— John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, today announced that Deloitte Consulting, LLP has completed their study of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure throughout the A&M System. The study included 29 detailed recommendations with anticipated savings of $200 million over the next ten years or $20 million per year if infrastructure changes are implemented.

“As soon as I started this job, our auditor reported that the rising costs of IT at the A&M System were unsustainable, therefore we initiated a review of IT immediately utilizing Deloitte,” said Sharp. “There is no way to have an efficient operation of any kind without a first-class IT department. We will immediately begin implementing these recommendations, which will not only save money, but will enable us to have the best IT department in the state.”

The report covers all A&M System members. It points out a lack of unified vision at the system-level, while structural and funding challenges have forced members to be self-sufficient with limited opportunities for cooperation. The result has been an inefficient structure that presents challenges in attracting, hiring and retaining qualified IT staff. However, some system members, including Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M International University, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, Texas A&M Transportation Institute and West Texas A&M University have well developed and highly functioning IT leadership.

"I believe we have been able to make great progress at West Texas A&M University over the past several yars in containing costs while at the same time keeping pace with technology and enhancing IT services for student learning and student and faculty research," Dr. J. Patrick O'Brien, WTAMU president, said. "I look forward to implementing the Deloitte recommendations which will allow us to provide even better IT programs and services to our faculty, staff and students."

There was no immediate timing discussed for a rollout of the suggested changes, but given the potential savings and opportunity to improve both the quality and efficiency of the IT infrastructure, the chancellor assures the project will be a high priority.

“This set of recommendations has been delivered to each CEO of the system,” said Sharp. “It has been developed with strong grassroots IT support throughout the system, and I believe will be implemented in its entirety.”